Lighter



July 14, 1970 A. VAN POPPEL LIGHTER Filed July 29, 1968 1N VENTOR.

L E mm! 0 1% g V WM E W M Y B MTDRNEy United States Patent 11.5. Cl. 431-254 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pistol-type gas lighter having an angular housing including a first leg constituting a handle adapted to re ceive a container for liquid fuel, said container having an outlet arranged to be closed or opened by a movable valve disposed in a chamber to prevent or permit the entry of fuel into said chamber, a second leg including a fuel conduit connecting said chamber with the head end of said second leg, said head end accommodating an ignition device capable of bringing a spark in the outflow zone of said fuel conduit, and a trigger device mounted in the zone of the inner corner of the angular housing, said trigger device being adapted to actuate said ignition device and shortly previously to lift the valve from the outlet of the fuel container.

This invention provides a lighter having an angular housing including a first leg constituting a handle adapted to receive a container for liquid fuel, said container having an outlet arranged to be closed or opened by a movable valve disposed in a chamber to prevent or permit the entry of fuel into said chamber, a second leg including a fuel conduit connecting said chamber with the head end of said second leg, said head end accommodating an ignition device capable of bringing a spark in the outflow zone of said fuel conduit, and a trigger device mounted in the zone of the inner corner of the angular housing, said trigger device being adapted to actuate said ignition device and shortly previously to lift the valve from the outlet of the fuel container.

The invention also provides a lighter having an ignition mechanism, comprising a spark wheel/flint combination drivable with a ratchet wheel drive and a fingeroperable spring-biased trigger for actuating said ratchet wheel drive, the connection between the trigger and the ratchet wheel drive being constituted by a crank and push rod mechanism, said push rod being connected to the trigger through a compression spring, said compression spring being tensioned when said trigger is operated and urging said push rod against a release mechanism which is operated by said trigger to release said push rod adjacent to the end position of the trigger, whereby said spring is expanded and said ratchet wheel is driven.

The invention futrher provides a lighter with a replaceable container for liquid fuel, said container being accommodated in a cavity of the housing of the lighter, said cavity having an opening through which the replacement of the container can be effected, said opening having a detachable closure plug said container having an adjusting nut by means of which the outflow of the fuel can be controlled, said cavity having a seat for said adjusting nut in which the latter is fixed against rotation, said closure plug having a central portion rotatable from outside relative to the remainder of said plug and engaging on the inside the bottom of said fuel container for the latter to be restrained from rotation to said rotatable central portion.

Furthermore the invention provides a lighter having an ignition mechanism comprising a spark wheel mounted 3,520,647 Patented July 14, 1970 ICC for rotation in the housing of the lighter, a channel extending substantially radially relative to said spark wheel and accommodating a helical spring which urges a flint, located in said channel, against said spark Wheel, said channel being constituted by an open groove in an outer surface of the housing and an open groove formed in a sliding member adapted to slide on said outer surface of the housing, said two grooves together forming a substantially closed channel accommodating the free end of said helical spring and the end of the flint away from said spark wheel, said ends of the spring and the flint being separated from each other by a dog in the groove of the sliding member.

The lighter according to the invention is excellently suitable for use in igniting gas stoves, gas-rings, welding apparatus and all kinds of other sources of heat, in that it produces a flame at the end of a long and narrow part of the housing, so that the operators hand does not come too close to the flame source to be ignited. Accordingly, the lighter can be easily inserted under pans and boiling plates and into geysers, so that ignition can also be effected in places that are not easily accessible.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In said drawings,

FIG. 1 is a vertical section through a lighter according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section on the line 11-11 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section on the line III-III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section on the line IVIV of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown an angular housing 1 comprising two legs, of which the first leg constitutes a handle 2 and the second leg a column 3. Formed in the handle 2 is a cavity 4 which at its open bottom end 5 can be closed with a screw plug 6. Accommodated in the cavity 4 is a fuel container 7 whose head end 8 we tends into a chamber 9 of the handle 2. The chamber 9 is hermetically sealed from the cavity 4 by a packing 10 in collaboration with the head end 8. Formed in the column 3 is a longitudinal channel 11 on one end communicating with the chamber 9 and on the other end terminatin-g at the head of the column 3.

The head 8 of the fuel container 4 terminates in an outflow pipe 12, on whose outlet rests a valve 13. The valve 13 is axially guided in the chamber 9 by a sealing O-ring 14 and a valve stem 15 which is a sliding fit through the end wall of the chamber 9. A helical spring 16 biases the valve 13 towards and on to the outflow pipe 12 to prevent outflow of fuel. The outwardly protruding part of the valve stem 15 is engaged by a valve lifter 17 comprising a substantially annular portion 17 surrounding the column 3 and a leg portion 17" extending at an angle to said annular portion. The valve lifter is pivotally supporting on the housing at 18. The leg 17 has a bifurcated end 19 having resilient prongs, which snap into a groove 19a formed in the valve stem. Accordingly, the head 20 of the valve stem bears on the leg 17 of the valve lifter 17, as a result of which the movement of the valve towards the cavity is limited. On the other hand the valve lifter is fixed in position by the spring biased valve stem.

At the distal end 21 of the column 3 is a spark wheel 23 rotatable about a pin 22. A U-shaped lever 24 is also rotable about the shaft 22 and cooperates with the spark wheel in the manner of a pawl and ratchet wheel. The U- shaped lever 24 is made of resilient sheet steel with resilient tongues being punched from one or both webs of the lever for pawl action on the side surface of the spark wheel, such surface being notched in a manner known per se.

The assembly of the spark wheel and spark wheel drive as described is mounted in a generally steel sleeve 45, clampingly slid on the column 3. The lever 24 is pivoted to a push rod 25 extending parallel to the column 3 at the bottom thereof in the direction of the inner corner formed by the legs of the housing 1.

A flint 26 is supported in a semi-cylindrical groove extending longitudinally in the bottom face of the column 3 and has its end away from the spark wheel bearing on a sliding member 27 slidable longitudinally of the column 3. The sliding member 27 has in its surface facing the column 3 a semi-cylindrical groove 28, which is divided by a dog 29 into a part 28' and a part 28", in which latter part the end of the flint 26 bears against the dog 29. The semicylindrical groove 30 in the column 3 and the semicylindrical groove 28 together form a substantially closed channel accommodating the helical spring 31. One end of this spring 31 bears against an end face 32 of the groove 30, through a pin 33, the other end of the spring biasing against the dog 29 of the sliding member 27. Adjacent to the corner formed by the legs of the housing 1, there is provided a trigger 35 adapted to the human finger and connected to the column 3 for longitudinal sliding movement. A helical spring 36 biases the trigger to the head 21 of the column 3.

A rod 25 extends through the guiding portion 37 of the trigger 35 into a bearing 38 in which it can slide freely. A spring 39, which bears on one end on the trigger and on the other on an abutment ring 40 constituting part of the rod 25, biases the rod into the direction of the corner of the housing, the relative displacements of the rod 25 and the trigger 35 being limited by an abutment ring 40 fixedly connected with the rod 25.

The inward movement of the rod 25 is blocked by a bell crank 41, one leg 41' of which has a blocking function, and the other leg 41" of which constitutes an abutment for the trigger 35. A hairpin spring 42 urges bell crank 41 into engagement with the housing 1.

Provided at the head 8 of the fuel container 7 is an adjusting nut 50, by means of which a throttle valve mechanism (not shown) provided in said head can be adjusted to vary the rate of flow of fuel per unit of time by turning the nut 50. Part of the chamber 9 is of such shape, for example hexagonal, that the adjusting nut 50 is mounted therein so as to be restrained from rotation.

The reservoir portion 52 of the fuel container 7 is freely rotatable in the cavity 4. The screw plug 6 has a rotatable central section 53 which is axially movable in the hole 51. The movable section has a hexagonal head 55. The bottom 56 of the fuel container has an internal hexagonal hollow 57 matching the hexagonal head 55. Connected with with the rotatable central section 53 is an annular handle 58. A spring 58 urges the rotatable central section to the position as shown, which position is fixed by an abutment pin 43.

The operation of the lighter according to the invention and the manner in which it is to be operated are as follows. The handle is gripped by the hand with the indicator finger pulling the trigger in the manner in which a pistol is operated. The trigger then slides in the direction of the arrow P, compressing the helical springs 36 and 39. The rod 25 is also displaced in the direction of the arrow P until its end face abuts against the bell crank 41'. The latter cannot escape because it is pressed against the abutment flank 44. The trigger now first assumes the (dotted) position 35'. When it is pulled further the cam portion 135 will press against the ring 17 of the valve lifter 17 for the latter, rocking about the pivot 18, to pull the valve stem 15 and hence the valve 13 outwardly. Fuel now flows from the pipe 12 into the chamber 9 and next through the pipe 11 to the end 21. When the trigger is pulled further to the position 35" the cam portion 235 of the trigger 35 will strike against the leg 41" of the bell crank 41 for the latter to assume the (dotted) position 141. Now the spring 39 can expand, and the push rod 25 will shoot frwardly owing to the built-up pressure from the spring 39, so that the spark wheel is brought into fast rotation and will cause sparks being generated into the zone of fuel outflow 21, thus igniting the fuel and forming a flame. So long as the trigger is held the flame keeps burning.

When the trigger is released it is returned to its inoperative position, during which movement the rod 25 also slides back, the ignition device being brought into its inoperative position through abutment ring 40, the valve lifter 17 returning into the position as shown and shutting off the gas.

The screw 6 serves for opening and closing the cavity 7 for replacing, in known manner, an empty fuel tank. As a new, filled fuel tank is introduced, the adjusting nut 50 falls into the chamber 9 and is locked against rotation. The invention thus provides a simple means of adjusting the height of the flame, namely, such that this can be effected during use and without extra tools. This is of importance because, even though the position of the adjusting nut is not changed, the flame will not always be equally large. Variations may occur as a result of changes in temperature to which the fuel is subject, either because of variations in the ambient temperature or because of the time through which the flame is used. As a matter of fact, evaporation of the liquid fuel will cause internal cooling. On the other hand, the various purposes for which the lighter may be used will often require different flame sizes. The adjustment of the flame size can now be effected in a simple manner by gripping the eye '58 and pressing it axially, when the hexagon 55 will fall into the internal hexagon 57 of the bottom of the fuel container. The fule container, at least the part 52, can now be turned to the left or to the right accordingly as a larger or smaller flame is desired, the adjusting nut remaining stationary relative to the housing as the adjustment is eflected. If the eye 58 is then released, it will spring back to its inoperative position as shown. The eye can also serve for suspending the lighter, in which connection it is of importance that the eye is freely rotatable relative to the lighter. Noteworthy is further the simple way in which the valve lifter is mounted, the latter being simply slipped over the column 3, whereafter the part 17 is snapped into the grove 19 of the valve stem 15.

Another remarkable advantage of the lighter accord ing to the invention is the way in which the flint 26 is mounted. For by virtue of the special construction of the sliding member and the channels formed by the grooves 32 and 28, the latter remains visible from the bottom of the column 3 during use, so that it can be determined at a glance whether the length of the flint is still suflicient. The flint is replaced by sliding the sliding member 27 in the direction of the handle 2, as a result of which the spent flint will drop out. A new flint is then placed in the groove 30, and the sliding member is released.

Since it is conceivable that the flint will unintentionally be worn to the extent that the sliding member would engage the spark wheel and be damaged, an abutment is provided by having the webs 24' of the U-shaped lever 24 extend beyond the circumference of the spark wheel, so that the sliding member will remain spaced a minimum distance from the spark wheel in its extreme position by abutting against said webs.

I claim:

1. A lighter comprising: an angular housing having first and second legs extending angularly from each other; a handle formed in said first leg, said handle being adapted to receive a container for liquid fuel having an outlet therein; means defining a chamber in said first leg, said chamber communicating with said outlet; means forming a fuel conduit in said second leg said conduit connecting said chamber with the head end of said second leg; a movable valve located within said chamber, said valve being biased in a normally closed position; a valve stem attached to said movable valve, said valve stem extending through an end wall of said chamber, a valve lifter pivotally mounted upon said angular housing, said valve lifter having two limbs angularly spaced from each other, one limb being adapted to engage said valve stem in such manner that when said valve lifter is pivoted, said valve is opened, permitting fuel to enter said chamber; the other limb having a shape adapted to generally conform to the outside configuration of the second leg of said angular housing; an ignition device located in said head end of said second leg; a trigger movably mounted within the junction of said first and second legs, said trigger including an abutment face adapted to engage the other limb and pivot said valve lifter when said trigger is pulled; and means cooperating with said trigger to actuate said ignition device shortly after said valve lifter is pivoted, thus igniting said fuel in the outflow zone of said conduit.

2. A lighter according to claim 1, wherein said ignition device comprises a spark wheel/flint combination drivable with a ratchet Wheel drive and a finger-operable springbiased trigger for actuating said ratchet wheel drive, the connection between the trigger and the ratchet wheel drive being constituted by a crank and push rod mechanism, said push rod being connected to the trigger through a compression spring, said compression spring being tensioned when said trigger is operated and urging said push rod against a release mechanism which is operated by said trigger to release said push rod adjacent to the end position of the trigger, whereby said spring is expanded and said ratchet wheel is driven.

3. A lighter according to claim 2, wherein the crank of said crank and push rod mechanism is a U-shaped lever made of sheet spring steel with at least one web being provided with a punched-out tongue in engagement with a notched flank of the spark wheel.

4. A lighter according to claim 3, wherein at least one web of the U-shaped lever projects beyond the circumference of the spark wheel to form an abutment for the sliding member.

5. A lighter according to claim 1 further comprising a replaceable container for liquid fuel, said container being accommodated in a cavity of the housing of the lighter, said cavity having an opening through which the replacement of the container can be effected, said opening having a detachable closure plug, said container having an adjusting nut by means of which the outflow of the fuel can be controlled, said cavity having a seat for said adjusting nut in which the latter is fixed against rotation, said closure plug having a central portion rotatable from outside relative to the remainder of said plug and engaging on the inside the bottom of said fuel container for the latter to be restrained from rotation relative to said rotatable central portion.

6. A lighter according to claim 5, wherein said rotatable central section is axially movable relative to the remaining section of the closure plug, in such a manner that said central section can be brought out of engagement with the bottom of the fuel container.

7. A lighter according to claim 6, wherein said movable central section of the screw plug is spring-biased out of contact with the fuel container.

8. A lighter according to claim 6, wherein said movable central section is provided with means for suspending the lighter, said means also constituting a handle for pressing and turning the movable central section.

9. A lighter according to claim 1, wherein the ignition mechanism comprises a spark wheel mounted for rotation in the housing of the lighter, a channel extending substantially radially relative to said spark wheel and accommodating a helical spring which urges a flint, lo cated in said channel, against said spark wheel, said channel being constituted by an open groove in an outer surface of the housing and an open groove formed in a sliding member adapted to slide on said outer surface of the housing, said two grooves together forming a substantially closed channel accommodating the free end of said helical spring and the end of the flint away from said spark wheel, said ends of the spring and the flint being separated from each other by a dog in the groove of the sliding member.

10. A lighter according to claim 9, wherein said dog in the groove of the sliding member slidingly fits the groove of the housing.

11. A lighter according to claim 9, wherein said sliding members has gripping means for moving said sliding member against the action of the spring.

12. A lighter comprising: an angular housing having first and second legs extending angularly from each other; a handle formed in said first leg, said handle being adapted to receive a container for liquid fuel having an outlet therein; means defining a chamber in said first leg, said chamber connecting with said outlet; means forming a fuel conduit in said second leg said conduit connecting said chamber with the head end of said second leg; a movable valve located within said chamber, said valve being spring biased toward said outlet and adapted to move axially outwardly relative to said handle to permit fuel from said container to enter said chamber; a valve stem attached to said movable valve, said valve stem having an annular groove therein, and extending through an end wall of said chamber so that the portion thereof carrying said annular groove protrudes outside the ham dle of said lighter; a valve lifter pivotally mounted upon said angular housing, said valve lifter having two limbs angularly spaced from each other, one limb being adapted to snap into said annular groove in such manner that when said valve lifter is pivoted said valve is moved axially outwardly, permitting fuel to enter said chamber; the outer limb having an annular shape, said limb being adapted to encircle the second leg of said angular housing; an ignition device located in said head end of said second leg, said ignition device being capable of bringing a spark to the outflow zone of said conduit; a trigger movably mounted within the junction of said first and second legs, said trigger including an abutment face adapted to engage the other limb of said valve lifter when said trigger is pulled, pivoting said valve lifter on the angular housing, consequently releasing said valve and permitting fuel to enter said chamber and said conduit; and means cooperating with said trigger to actuate said ignition device shortly after said valve lifter is pivoted, thus igniting said fuel in the outflow zone of said conduit.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,027,294 I/ 1936 Silberknopf 431-276 X 2,808,714 10/1957 Wilson 431 X 2,174,309 3/ 1965 Kobayashi 43 l-131 3,213,648 10/1965 Racek 43 l131 3,406,001 10/1968 Isibashi 431125 X FOREIGN PATENTS 55,968 10/1912 Austria.

EDWARD J. MICHAEL, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 431-125, 275 

